'IND vs PAK is not a rivalry anymore' - Suryakumar Yadav roasts Pakistan with honest take against arch-rivals

Published - 22 Sept 2025, 09:15 IST | Updated - 22 Sept 2025, 09:38 IST

India extended their dominant record against Pakistan in T20 internationals, after defeating the latter in the Super Fours clash of the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, September 21. While India won the game by six wickets and seven balls remaining, skipper Suryakumar Yadav was delighted with the kind of performance his men put up on the field to collect their first win of the stage.

On being asked about the standards of the two teams, Suryakumar was quick to respond that the Indians are much more ahead of the Men in Green in terms of playing quality cricket. He also opined that the rivalry between the two nations does not exist any more, as Pakistan have failed to live up to the intensity, failing to win a single game against the Men in Blue in the last three years.

“I would like to say one thing on this question. I feel that you should stop asking this question on the rivalry. Standards and rivalry are the same,” he continued. In my opinion, if two teams play 15–20 matches and if [head-to-head] it is 7-7 or 8-7, then that is called a rivalry. But 13-0, 10-1 [Pakistan have won only 3 out of 15 games against India] I don't know what the stats are. But this is not a rivalry any more. But yeah, I feel we played better cricket than them,” Suryakumar said at the post-match press conference.

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For the unversed, the Indians had opted to bowl first after winning the toss, and in spite of the great start that the Pakistani side got, they lost momentum in the middle, putting up a 172-run target after 20 overs. In reply, openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill stretched a century partnership for the first wicket, pulling the tides completely in their favour. As a result, Suryakumar opined that his decision to bowl first was spot on.

"According to me, the decision I took [to bowl first at the toss] was because I thought the wicket would remain the same for the entire 40 overs. And it was the same. There wasn't much of a break afterwards. And the wicket always plays better in lights," he said.

India will be up against Bangladesh in their next clash. Both the sides will be entering the contest after winning the first game of the Super Fours, respectively. The match will be played on Thursday in Dubai. On the other hand, Pakistan will be facing Sri Lanka for their next game on Tuesday at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi. If the Salman Ali Agha-led side loses this game, they will be thrown out of the competition.